Larry Kaminski
| No. 59 | |
|---|---|
| Position: | Center |
Personal information | |
| Date of birth: | January 6, 1945 |
| Place of birth: | Cleveland, Ohio |
| Career information | |
| College: | Purdue |
| Undrafted: | 1966 |
Career history | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Career NFL statistics | |
| Games Played: | 96 |
|
Stats at NFL.com | |
| Stats at pro-football-reference.com | |
Larry Kaminski (born January 6, 1945) is a former professional American football player.
Early life
Kaminski is originally from Cleveland, Ohio where he attended Cathedral Latin High School. As captain of the Lions, he helped lead the team to win the East Senate title and compete in the City Championship- Charity Game. Following his senior year he made numerous honors to include All-Ohio, High School All-American, and played in the Ohio All Star game in Canton, Ohio.
College career
Purdue awarded Larry a scholarship to attend the Big Ten University. Larry played all three varsity seasons as both a center and linebacker. He was Captain of the freshman team. The Purdue teams coached by Jack Mollenkopf led by Hall of Famer Bob Griese beat Notre Dame and was ranked in the top 10 his senior year. Larry earned first team All Big Ten honors and honorable mention All American. After the season ended he was invited to play in the Blue-Gray Game in Montgomery, Alabama where he started the game at center.
He graduated in 1966 with a BS Industrial Management. (Economics and Marketing).
Professional career
After graduation, Larry who was undrafted was preparing for a business career when the Denver Broncos asked to sign him as a free agent. He jumped on the opportunity and went to the weight room to beef up to 235 pounds. He made the Broncos roster and started at center for 13 games. After the season he was mentioned for Rookie of the Year honorable mention. Larry's career lasted from 1966-1973. He experienced being a member of the first winning year for the Denver franchise. He also played in the first two wins the AFL had over the venerable NFL when the Broncos beat the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings. He was voted to be a member of the All-AFL Team in 1967 and played in the All Star game in Jacksonville, Florida. Being very active in the Denver community, he was nominated for NFL Man of the Year Honors in 1972 and 1973. Larry was a game captain several times in his tenure with the team. After a series of injuries, he decided to retire in 1974.
Life after football
After retirement, Larry was awarded an Anheuser Busch franchise in Ski Town USA, Steamboat Springs, CO. He and former Nebraska great, Walt Barnes worked the business for several years. Walt sold out and Larry recruited his two sons to learn the business. Larry became active in the steamboat community. He was awarded the honor of Steamboat Man of the Year in 1977. He also was named the King of the famous Winter Carnival sharing the thrown with the mom of the skiing legend Werner family-Hazie Werner. Besides being a volunteer coach for some 20 years, a part-time economic teacher for Junior Achievement, Larry helped several service groups and schools with career days. His company has won many sales awards and is now managed by Kevin and Chris his sons. His third son Dana lives in Indiana and is an elementary school administrator.
Larry now lives in Kitsap County, WA. He has been the operator of a charter fishing business called Captain Larry's Adventures. He called it quits in 2006 and now enjoys a life of outdoor relaxation, fishing, garden work, cooking, and visiting his six grandchildren. He remarried in 2003.
Larry has been inducted into the Cathedral Latin High School Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio. Recently, he was inducted into the Steamboat Springs Cowboy Rodeo Hall of Fame for his work as a sponsor and promoter of the famous Rodeo Cowboy Downhill ski event.
Larry was one of the original inductees of the Denver Bronco Alumni Association Board of Directors. He and Jerry Sturm and Gene Mingo were the only players from the original Denver AFL franchise. (see www.remembertheAFL.com)
Larry is the Managing Founder of the www.jackmollenkopfsociety.com. He and other Purdue players felt there was a special need to honor their coach. They refer to themselves as Jack's Boys.The former players will honor Coach Jack at Purdue Homecoming game each year.
Larry has recently been placed as a nominee for center on the Denver Bronco All 50 year Team.
Larry has 6 grand children..the youngest is Adam Kaminski,Keely Kaminski, Morgan Kaminski, Christopher Kaminski, Jonathan Q Kaminski, and Kylen Kaminski. He is also step grand dad to Wyatt, CoCo, Dash, Riley Mae, Ashley, and Cole.